“President Saakashvili, Don’t Kill the Printed Media!”

Interpresnews

“President Saakashvili, don’t kill the printed media!” Georgian and English language Appeal to the President of Georgia has been published on the front pages of almost all Georgian newspapers today.

Newspaper Kviris Palitra, Resonance, Asaval-Dasavali, Versia, Akhali Taoba, Kronika (Kronika changed the formulation of the appeal into “President Saakashvili Is Killing Printed Media) protest removal of newspaper distribution booths from the capital and petitioned to the President Saakashvili to stop the campaign.

According to the Kviris Palitra newspaper, just a few press booths out of total 140-150 ones were left in Tbilisi and they will be removed by the end of the year as well.

‘Reportedly booths will be removed in other towns of Georgia too’, the Kviris Palitra newspaper wrote.
The author of the article journalist Khatuna Paichadze interviewed the head of the Press Association Lasha Tugushi and experts who evaluate the campaign as oppression on printed media.

“It is impudent! Of course, the political crisis of the government gave a start to this situation. Similar reactive assault on the independent media has never been observed before and it is directly linked with the upcoming elections,” said Lasha Tugushi.

Political scientist Ramaz Sakvarelidze said “media resembles a light. It illuminates the dark corners of the statehood which is not easily seen by a person. Like thieves smash bulbs at night, various political powers try to hush down media. It should be a topic of concern for the society.”

According to the Resonansi newspaper, press distribution companies are at the risk of a bankruptcy.

“Press Distribution Companies state they are facing risk of bankruptcy because of removal of press booths in the capital”, the newspaper says.

According to “Versia”, in parallel to the removal of newspaper booths, Poultry Georgia (former Koda Company) has purchased 22 booths on the auction; thus, newspapers will not be sold in any of those booths.

Press distribution has faced problems in the capital for several weeks already. The distribution company “Matsne” was paralyzed on Saturday because booths were removed from Tbilisi. Relatively, Matsne could not realize any newspaper on Saturday.

Press distribution booths are being removed due to City Hall’s project “1000 booths” and new trading booths will be placed in the framework of the project. The project aims to assist small and middle business, though the following food companies won recent auctions: “Koda”, “Kumisi XXI”, “Ioli”, “Nugeshi.

The next auctions will be held on December 28 and January 4, 2012.